Solid‐state routes to tantalum nitrides (TaN, Ta₃N₅)

Metal nitrides are hard, durable refractory materials with a number of applications, including wear resistance, reflective coatings, and catalysts. Low‐energy approaches to the synthesis of these materials are a topic of current research. A new method for the preparation of tantalum nitride is presented which is a solid‐state reaction, a hybrid between the molecular precursor approach and a metathesis reaction.